Election Day has come and gone. As Virginia Republicans cry and the Democrats cheer, we think it’s more important to take the opportunity to thank the local folks who are willing again – some for the first time – to serve their respective communities through the offices they sought and won.

True, there was no competition for people such as Franklin’s City Treasurer Dinah Babb, or Commissioner of Revenue Brenda Rickman.

Nor did Carrsville’s Rex Alphin and Robert Eley have to worry about anyone who wanted their seats on the supervisors and school board, respectively.

Del. Rick Morris, R-64th, had no challenger. Though Del. Roslyn C. Tyler, D-75th, did have competition, she also retained her position.

We like to think that, by and large, each stayed where they are because their work speaks for itself. That is, the voters have confidence in what these people have been doing.

At the same time, Isle of Wight welcomes newcomers Rudolph Jefferson and Tina Louise Hill for the Hardy District seats of the supervisors and school boards. They’ve stepped up as their predecessors have decided to retire.

None of these offices promise truckloads of money and fame.

Instead, there are seemingly countless meetings to attend, messages to answer and constituents to help, to name a few responsibilities.

Yet, the aforementioned people are more than willing to spend their time and energy.

But that’s kind of what citizenship is about, isn’t it? The willingness to invest oneself to help others.